Jordan holiday, a week in Jordan
Our bestselling Jordan holiday will see you snorkelling amongst coral reefs, exploring sandstone cities and floating on saline seas. The highlight? A night in a Bedouin-run desert camp, joining in a traditional zarb cookout.
Petra Wadi Rum Desert camp Bedouin hospitality Snorkelling in the Red Sea Dead Sea Jerash Aqaba
Price
£1269£1149To£1695excluding flights
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Optional single supplement from £320 - £335.
Minimum age 16.
Minimum age 16.
Offers
Up to £130 off selected dates.
Late availability on these dates: 29 Aug, 12 Sep, 23 Sep, 26 Sep, 03 Oct, 07 Oct, 10 Oct, 17 Oct, 21 Oct, 24 Oct, 31 Oct, 04 Nov, 07 Nov, 11 Nov, 14 Nov
Late availability on these dates: 29 Aug, 12 Sep, 23 Sep, 26 Sep, 03 Oct, 07 Oct, 10 Oct, 17 Oct, 21 Oct, 24 Oct, 31 Oct, 04 Nov, 07 Nov, 11 Nov, 14 Nov
Description of Jordan holiday, a week in Jordan
Exciting activities and cultural enlightenment await as you embark on a week in Jordan featuring all the major points of interest, from Jerash and Amman, in the north, to Wadi Rum and the Red Sea, in the south.
Where else would you have the chance to go snorkelling over coral reefs and float on a saline sea, before spending a couple of days exploring the fascinating sandstone carved city of Petra prior to camping out under the stars amongst the folds of the desert?
This one-week in Jordan holiday offers an ideal introduction to the history, culture and landscapes of the area with the Roman heritage and Bedouin life just as integral to this sort of cultural tour as the sandstone mountains and the crystal-clear blue hues of the Red Sea.
Itinerary
| Day 1: | Welcome to Amman, the capital of Jordan, where our adventure begins. There are free transfers to the hotel from Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) for all customers today. Please note, transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts. Accommodation: Hotel Khan Khediwe (or similar) |
| Day 2: | We drive north to Jerash this morning, the largest Roman ruins in Jordan. Buried for centuries under blown sand, the ancient architecture here is remarkably well preserved and an exploration of the dramatic oval forum, colonnaded main streets, two theatres and impressive Temple of Zeus provides a fascinating insight into life in the ancient world. After a good look around, we head back to Amman for a city tour, which takes in the hilltop ruins of the Citadel, a site occupied by various civilisations from the Bronze Age, plus the 6,000-seat Roman amphitheatre and the old city. Accommodation: Hotel Khan Khediwe (or similar) |
| Day 3: | Today is a long driving day as we head down the Kings Highway, which takes us up and down huge wadis (valleys). However, we have several stops of interest en route including Madaba, where we visit St Georges Church to admire its mosaic floor, considered the oldest map of Palestine in existence. We then make the short drive to Mount Nebo, where, from this 2,295ft (700m) high viewpoint overlooking the Dead Sea to Palestine and Israel beyond, Moses is said to have first seen the Promised Land. Its then to the magnificent fortified town of Kerak, a Crusader stronghold dominated by a medieval castle. Further south, we reach Petra, the premier historic site in Jordan and one of the most outstanding ancient cities in the world. Accommodation: Petra hotel see accommodation section for more detail |
| Day 4 - 5: | Enjoy two days exploring Petra, an ancient Nabatean city carved spectacularly into sandstone cliffs. Building started here in the third century BCE, but the Red Rose City was hidden for centuries until Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt rediscovered it in 1812. To enter, we walk down a narrow chasm known as the Siq. Dramatically unveiled at the end is El Khazneh (the Treasury), the first breathtaking sight of a remarkable day. Continuing to the city centre, we pass the houses and tombs of the rich citizens and the remarkable scale of the site begins to unveil itself. You can also take the optional walk up the 800 or so steps to El Deir (the Monastery), with its superb facade topped by a huge urn. On the second day, your guide takes you into the site for either a hike up to the High Place of Sacrifice or for free time to explore the city further. Only a few people attempt to visit the High Place as it can be quite arduous and is not recommended for those who are unsure of their fitness or are uncomfortable with heights. However, those who do make it to the top are rewarded with wonderful views over parts of the site visited on the previous day. On one of the evenings, you may also have the opportunity to dine at a family home in Wadi Musa, eating traditional Jordanian dishes that you wouldn't typically find in restaurants. The host normally eats with the group, an excellent chance to gain firsthand insight into the local life and culture in an authentic setting. Accommodation: Petra hotel see accommodation section for more detail |
| Day 6: | This morning, we have the option to take a guided tour through Little Petra (extra cost, payable locally) or you can relax at our hotel before we join the modern Desert Highway and head south to Wadi Rum. The purpose of Little Petra is not clear; however, archaeologists believe it was probably a suburb of Petra where visiting traders on the Silk Road may have stayed. Its then to the UNESCO-listed Wadi Rum, where dramatic sandstone mountains rise from the sandy desert floor. It was here that Lawrence of Arabia and Prince Faisal assembled the Arab tribes for the attack on Aqaba in the First World War and where sections of the 1962 epic film were shot. After weve checked into our private camp, our Bedouin hosts take us for an approximately two-hour 4Χ4 ride to explore the protected area. We visit the highlights, have time to sample Bedouin tea, and then watch the sunset from the vantage point of a rock formation. We then return to our camp, where we enjoy Bedouin hospitality with a traditional zarb dinner, which is cooked underground. After, we learn about Bedouin culture through interacting with the family who run the camp. Accommodation: private camp (permanent Bedouin camp) |
| Day 7: | Wake in dramatic desert scenery and then head to Aqaba, a port and resort by the Red Sea, best known for having beautiful coral reefs. Upon arrival, we sink into the sands of Baranice Beach with three to four hours to relax and enjoy the sea before hotel check in. Around 4pm-5pm, we join the tour leader for a walking tour of the old market, continuing to Aqaba Castle for a guided tour to uncover its historical significance and role in the Arab Revolt. We learn more about the Arab Revolt at the neighbouring Bait Al Sharif Hussein bin Ali Museum, before an optional dinner at Dar Ne'meh, a community initiative empowering local women by providing training and helping them to build their own businesses. After dinner and free time, we can either walk or drive back to the hotel. Accommodation: Lacosta Hotel (or similar) |
| Day 8: | Leaving the Red Sea, we transfer (4hr 30min) to the Dead Sea, where salt levels of around 34 percent keep you effortlessly afloat. Theres plenty of free time to experience this extraordinary phenomenon and to cover yourself with the Dead Sea mud, which is said to have healing powers, before cooling off in the swimming pool. Theres also the chance to visit Bethany Beyond the Jordan, said to be the site of Jesus Christs baptism by John the Baptist, a moment marking the new era of Christianity. This is an optional trip that can be booked and paid for locally. Its about a 15-minute drive from the Dead Sea hotel and the entire visit usually lasts 1hr 45min, including the drive to/from the hotel. Those who do not wish to visit the site will check into the hotel. This evening, we have a group dinner to celebrate our time in Jordan and say our farewells. Accommodation: Holiday Inn Dead Sea (or similar) Upgrade to a sea-view room overlooking the Dead Sea today speak to your sales representative for more details |
| Day 9: | Breakfast marks our final meal, an excellent chance to reminisce about an adventure packed with excitement. To make your return journey home easier, theres a free shared transfer back to the airport. Alternatively, if youd like further days to relax by the Dead Sea, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay. |
Map
Price information
£1269£1149To£1695excluding flights
Convert currency:
Optional single supplement from £320 - £335.
Minimum age 16.
Minimum age 16.
Check dates, prices & availability
Travel guides
Planning a trip to Petra and Wadi Rum? Be sure our travel guide is your reading list.
From Petra to the Pyramids, and from crumbling castles to whole cities, read more about our archaeology holidays.
Holiday information
Small group tour, ideal for solos & couples:
Small group travel is not large group travel scaled down. It is modeled on independent travel – but with the advantage of a group leader to take care of the itinerary, accommodation and tickets, and help with the language. It’s easy to tick off the big sights independently – but finding those one-off experiences, local festivals, travelling markets and secret viewpoints is almost impossible for someone without the insider knowledge gained from years in the field. For those with limited time, a small group tour will save valuable time in planning, and on holiday.
Our top tip:
The trails in Petra are steep, and challenging in the summer heat. Get some practice walks in if you can.
Trip type:
Small group tour, 4-18 people (min. age 16) with a tour leader.
Activity level:
Leisurely/moderate with some steep uphill walks in Petra.
Accomm:
3* hotels, 1 night in a basic campsite with running water and fixed toilet.
Solos:
Solo travellers welcome. Own room available with surcharge.
Included:
Accomm., breakfasts, transfers. Flights if booked.
Meals:
Breakfasts, 1 dinner. £200-£250 advised for extra meals.
Indigenous communities:
This trip benefits Bedouin communities through homestays and a night in a Wadi Rum desert camp run by the Bedouin people, who also provide meals such as a traditional zarb. Ingredients for meals are sourced from local markets whenever possible. Tourists support the local economy by purchasing handicrafts.
Reviews
30 Reviews of Jordan holiday, a week in Jordan
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 05 Nov 2025 by Mary Richardson
A wonderful experience....Jerash was astonishing, Petra unforgettable Read full reviewReviewed on 09 Oct 2025 by Lynn Lovelock
This was an excellent trip. It covered all the major sites in Jordan, travelling from one end of the country to the other, without ever feeling too rushed. I highly recommend it to anyone even vaguely interested in the country. Read full reviewReviewed on 20 Mar 2024 by SARAH BAKER
Be prepared to walk 10 miles around Petra if you want to explore all parts of it, very well worth it over a whole day. Read full reviewReviewed on 11 Mar 2023 by Anne Tee
Two days exploring Petra, meeting Bedouins living there in caves. Camping in moonlight in Wadi Rum and riding a camel across the desert... Great. Read full reviewReviewed on 04 Nov 2022 by Lyn Pemberton
Terrific, full-on trip - skilfully planned and guided. Read full reviewReviewed on 11 Oct 2022 by Valerie Balban
All the highlights were great in their own way Petra, Wadi Rum, the Red and the Dead Sea... it was a great trip. Read full reviewReviewed on 16 Dec 2019 by Brian Stow
The most memorable part of the holiday was the first glimpse of the treasury at Petra. Read full reviewReviewed on 07 Oct 2019 by Warren Heyes
Very enjoyable. A lot of experiences packed onto one week. Read full reviewReviewed on 24 Sep 2019 by John Coppock
Fantastic - the most amazing country I have ever visited and the best holiday I have had in many years. Read full reviewReviewed on 19 Dec 2018 by Barbara Hayers
It was amazing in Wadi rum to sleep in the desert in secure tents watching the sun go down then get up the next morning to watch it come up very magical. You see a lot of Jordan lovely people always helpful. Read full reviewReviewed on 23 Apr 2018 by Gerry Griffiths
But there were so many other memorable moments such as the meals out in the desert, floating in the Dead Sea, visiting Mount Nebo. Petra itself is vast and two days is just enough time to get a sense of the place and see the main sights. Read full reviewReviewed on 26 Mar 2018 by David Downing
The most memorable moments were a night in Wadi Rum hosted by Bedouins, including a camel ride in the desert to see the sunset, an early morning sunrise experience and lovely local food. Equally wonderful was the trek on the back trails to the high sacred place. Read full reviewReviewed on 27 Apr 2018 by Lesley Wallace
The two days in Petra were wonderful. Petra had so many surprises for us. I had only ever seen photos of the Treasury, so was not prepared for the Roman town, the Monastery and the High Place of Sacrifice etc. The night in the desert was brilliant - really exciting. Read full reviewReviewed on 09 Apr 2018 by Daniel Loureda
The most memorable was Wadi Rum Desert camping. Excellent trip covering plenty and great tour guide. Read full reviewReviewed on 28 Nov 2017 by Roger Bailey
I really liked the variety. There were days visiting sites and museums, mixed with a couple of days at the Dead and Red Seas, together with a day in the desert. In particular I enjoyed the group leader, who clearly cared about giving us a good experience, and who entertained and educated us in equal measure. Read full reviewReviewed on 12 May 2017 by Ferdinand Rullan
Jerdash Roman ruins was quite intact and impressive. But the most memorable were Petra, the walk along the Siq, and seeing the Treasury, and the Monastery. They were fantastic. Hiking up to the cliffs of Petra and the views were outstanding. Read full reviewReviewed on 27 Feb 2017 by Hely Collie
The most memorable moment was Petra (of course) and the camel ride at Wadi Rum (it is an optional but well worth it!). Our local tour leader was excellent (knowledge of history and kept us entertained during our bus journeys), the group blended well (the best so far), trips well organised and plenty of shopping opportunities. Read full reviewReviewed on 24 Sep 2017 by Ellen Cohen
Wow there were so many highlights. Snorkelling in the Red Sea, floating in the Dead Sea, camel ride in the desert, picnics of pita bread/hummus/tomatoes/cheese/olive oil/falafel and Petra. Read full reviewReviewed on 25 Jul 2017 by Neil Thomas
A night in the dessert at Wadi Rum was the most memorable. Read full reviewReviewed on 11 May 2017 by Alison Drew
Petra was the obvious highlight but we saw so many other unexpected monuments, ancient cities and fabulous landscape. Every day brought a new highlight. An excellent trip that visited as much of the country as possible squeezed into a week. Read full reviewReviewed on 27 Feb 2017 by Geoffrey Leigh
There was so many memorable moments. Trying to stand up in the Dead Sea it is nearly impossible for your feet to find the bottom so you end up bobbing like a cork! Walking down the canyon to Petra but also going up on the long way to the place of sacrifice. The amphitheatre in Amman. The call to prayer echoing across the city from the mosques is a wonderful musical recitation. Read full reviewReviewed on 09 Jan 2017 by Anil Kashyap
The most memorable moment was Petra. The wonder of the world. Read full reviewReviewed on 01 Nov 2016 by Susan Young
Visiting Petra and having two full days to explore were the most memorable parts of the holiday Read full reviewReviewed on 05 Apr 2016 by Joanne Offer
The walk into Petra is just breath-taking and there is something new to see every time you turn a corner. Read full reviewReviewed on 02 Nov 2015 by Annette Starfield
A great adventure.....Floating in the Dead Sea, snorkelling in the Red Sea, Petra. Read full reviewReviewed on 02 Nov 2015 by Julie Forshaw
There were many memorable parts for me; floating in the Dead Sea, snorkelling in the Red Sea, visiting Jerash and Petra plus the camel ride and overnight stay in Wadi Rum....Excellent - achieved all I wanted to see and do! Read full reviewResponsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) holiday so that you can travel knowing we've worked to maximise the benefits of your holiday to local people and places, and minimise any negative impacts.
Planet
Activity:We try to minimise litter as much as possible and are careful to emphasise that clients should not damage or remove pieces from any historical sites we visit. As we hire local guides as well as Bedouin guides, we can ensure that our activity has a positive effect on the economy and that our clients take away some of their passion and knowledge of Jordan. Our guides are trained in responsible travel issues and will be able to convey these in briefings.
UK Office:
It all starts at home so we have first worked at reducing our carbon footprint in our UK Offices. Through energy conservation measures and recycling policies, we are proud to be actively reducing the waste produced and our impact on the environment. We support various projects all over the world to try and give something back to the places we visit.
People
Accommodation and Meals:You will spend 7 nights in 3-star hotels with en suite rooms and 1 night in a Wadi Rum desert camp. We employ local Bedouin people to run the camp, so we know we are directly benefiting local communities with our business. The hotels are also locally staffed as per law in Jordan, so our stay here is also in support of local employment. Where meals are provided, ingredients will be sourced from a local market wherever possible. Clients may eat a zarb (where food is slow cooked underground) at the Bedouin camp and there will also be plenty of chance to eat in restaurants selling mezze style specialties like kebabs, fresh salads, and bread with hummus.
Local Craft and Culture:
Usually guides take clients to the market on the day going from Petra to Wadi Rum or Aqaba. This is a great cultural experience where clients can buy their own vegetables and fruit and even see how some meals are prepared- like falafel. We also visit the ancient city of Jerash, Madaba, the Dead Sea, and the fortified town of Kerak, but the cultural highlight of the trip for many is the visit to UNESCO World Heritage city, Petra. There is a full day here to explore the ancient, rose-coloured rock-cut architecture including El Khazneh (the treasury) and El Deir (the Monastery). There are some local handicrafts and souvenirs available here like hand painted ceramics, jewellery and vases filled with coloured sand. Clients can also support the community by purchasing donkey or horse rides from local people.
Group Size:
This small group tour has a maximum of 16 participants, meaning that we have a low impact on the environments and communities we visit and are able to ensure that we do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. The small number also allows us to stay in unique, family-run hotels that cannot benefit from coach tours and other mass tourism due to their limited sizes.
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